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The Reach of Lead in Flint’s Water Supply

In a cost-cutting move in 2014, the struggling city switched from Detroit’s water system to the Flint River. Residents began to complain, and elevated levels of lead were found in some children.

The city is now in a state of emergency. National Guard troops arrived on Jan. 12 to help distribute bottled water. On Tuesday, the Michigan governor, Rick Snyder, apologized to residents in his State of the State address. “I’m sorry most of all that I let you down,” he said.

Bottled water is now being distributed in Flint, Mich.Dale G. Young/Detroit News, via Associated Press

No Neighborhoods Are Safe

Researchers from Virginia Tech sampled every neighborhood, and found that some neighborhoods had much higher lead levels than others. In some areas, doctors found that the blood lead levels in children had tripled after the switch to Flint River water. “No neighborhoods were safe,” said Marc Edwards, a professor of civil engineering at Virginia Tech. The Flint water system may have to replace lead service lines under its control where lead levels are above 15 parts per billion, but public health scientists say there is no safe level for lead in water. State officials have advised residents not to drink unfiltered tap water or give it to their pets.

Percentage of tap water samples with lead above five parts per billion, by ward.

Treated Water Corrodes Lead Pipes

Fecal coliform bacteria appeared in the city’s water in the summer of 2014. Officials addressed the bacteria problem by pumping extra chlorine into the system, but did not add any corrosion control treatment. The water, which had become highly corrosive, caused lead to start leaching from pipes and home plumbing as it flowed through the city.

Chloride

Chloride is generally considered

to be very corrosive to iron.

Detroit water

11.4

Flint River water

92

0

20

40

60

80

(mg/L)

Chloride

Chloride is generally considered to be very corrosive to iron.

Detroit water

11.4

92

Flint River water

0

20

40

60

80

(mg/L)

Chloride to sulfate mass ratio

(CSMR)

Measures corrosivity to lead.

Detroit water

0.45

1.6

Flint River water

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

Critical trigger

Chloride to sulfate mass ratio (CSMR)

Measures corrosivity to lead.

Detroit water

0.45

1.6

Flint River water

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

Critical trigger

Source: City of Flint Monthly Operation Report, June 2015 and DWSD 2014 Water Quality Report.

Flint Switches Back to Detroit’s System

After the high levels of lead were found in children, the city switched back to Detroit’s water system, which is supplied by Lake Huron, in October 2015. But the damage to the pipes had been done. Mayor Karen Weaver said the shift back to Detroit’s water could not undo the corrosion damage, and the pipes continued to leach lead.

Lake

Michigan

Lake

Huron

Traverse

City

Michigan

Flint

River

Flint

Water

pipeline

Grand

Rapids

Lansing

Detroit

25 miles

The New York Times

Educating Residents About the Risk

Flint is distributing bottled water, filters and test kits. But reaching residents in poorer neighborhoods remains a challenge. “We are still getting phone calls from Flint residents who are not sure what the problem is, and who cannot get access to the filters or bottled water,” Dr. Edwards said. “These are the very residents whose children are at greatest risk.”

A filter that showed signs of corrosion and lead and copper particles.Laura McDermott for The New York Times

For the last few months, Chia Morgan of Flint has been using only bottled water for drinking and cooking. Her 3-year-old daughter, Malia, loves her bathtime, but Ms. Morgan now dreads it, trying to keep her from making bubbles or playing tea party — anything that could cause her to ingest the tap water. Ms. Morgan, a social worker, knows full well the dangers of lead poisoning, which affects neurobehavioral development in children and can be life-threatening at higher doses. “I’m anxious,” she said. She has added a new daily prayer for her daughter: “Lord, keep her safe from the lead, keep her mind strong, keep her body strong.”